Fractures

Question 1

Factors affecting fractures

Answer 1

-the bone involved
-location within the bone
-age, species, breed of patient
-nature of injury
-forces acting on fracture

Question 2

Forces that can cause and act on a fracture

Answer 2

-compression
-tension
-bending
-torsion

Question 3

Compression

Answer 3

Squish linear bone along its long axis
-can lead to shearing; when bones don’t lie up and slide pass each other

Question 4

Tension

Answer 4

Results in distraction
-most common apophyses where large muscle masses pull on the bone when the limb is bearing weight

eg. triceps/olecranon, quads, tibial tuberosity

Question 5

Avulsion

Answer 5

A fracture caused by a tensile force

Question 6

Bending

Answer 6

Results in angulation

Happens when a force is applied perpendicular to the long axis of a long bone
-can also result from a compression when proximal and distal ends of the bone are offset

Question 7

What two forces occur at the same time as bending

Answer 7

-Concave side= compression

-Convex side= distracted/ tension

Question 8

Torsion

Answer 8

The twisting force applied to a bone. Results in rotation

Question 9

Fracture healing

Answer 9

Fracture healing depends on the neutralization of the forces that act on the realigned bone

Question 10

Casts/splints

Answer 10

-good for bending
-fair for torsion
-nothing for compression or tension

Question 11

Intramedullary pins

Answer 11

-good against bending

Question 12

Wires

Answer 12

Help control tension and produce compression
-ineffective against other forces

Question 13

Interlocking nails

Answer 13

-good against all forces

Question 14

External skeletal fixators

Answer 14

-good against all forces as long as an appropriately strong configuration is chosen

Question 15

Bone plates

Answer 15

good against all forces

Question 16

Steps for fracture repair

Answer 16

Question 17

Open vs closed fractures

Answer 17

Question 18

Fracture configuration and degree of comminution

Answer 18

Lowest degree= incomplete fractures (greenstick or fissure fractures)

Question 19

Fissure

Answer 19

-crack in bone, not all the way through
-weak part of bone, will break further easily

Question 20

Greenstick fracture

Answer 20

-bend and fray on one side

Question 21

Saucer fracture

Answer 21

-common in horses
-gets kicked, chip of bone comes off

Question 22

Complete fracture

Answer 22

Two separate pieces; all the way through

Question 23

Transverse fracture

Answer 23

-if lined up, can be easy repair
-issue is torsion

Question 24

Oblique fractures

Answer 24

Diagonal fracture through bone
-can be short or long
-wire can be used for long repair
-shearing can be an issue

Question 24

What makes an oblique fracture long?

Answer 24

At least twice the diameter of the bone

Question 24

Spiral fracture

Answer 24

Question 25

Comminuted fractures

Answer 25

More than 2 fragments
-includes both butterfly fragment, highly comminuted, segmental or multiple

Question 26

Answer 26

Butterfly fragment

Question 27

Answer 27

Highly comminuted

Question 28

Answer 28

Segmental fracture
-comminuted

Question 29

Answer 29

multiple
-comminuted

Question 30

Factors influencing fracture configuration

Answer 30

-energy applied
-type and direction of force applied
-which bone is injured
-age of animal

Question 31

What affects how bone responds to forces?

Answer 31

Bone is vasoelastic
-responds based on the degree of the force and how rapidly the force is applied

Question 32

Midshaft fractures

Answer 32

Fractures that occur in the middle of the bone

Question 33

Fracture classifications due to cause

Answer 33

1. traumatic
2. pathologic
3. fatigue
4. iatrogenic

Question 34

How to describe fracture displacement?

Answer 34

Describe the location of the most distal fragment relative to the position of the most proximal fragment

**if angled, describe where the apex of the angle points